An Irish question

[Mr. Kilt]

Thanks fo rthe infor, guys. I knew if I posted it here I'd have some suggestions.

Most likely because your kilt has a tannish hue, making your outfit look a bit like the infamous "Black and Tans" of the Irish War of Independence.

As Wikipedia puts it, "The term Black and Tans refers to the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, which was one of two paramilitary forces employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1920 to 1921, to suppress revolution in Ireland. Although it was established to target the Irish Republican Army, it became notorious through its numerous attacks on the Irish civilian population. However, Black and Tans very often refers to both the RIC Reserve Force and the other RIC force raised for the Irish War of Independence, the RIC Auxiliary Division."

The Black and Tans were so named because of their less-than-uniform uniforms, consisting at first of khaki British Army pants and dark blue or dark green police shirts. When shortages of British Army uniform shirts and caps cleared up, the Black and Tans wore regular khaki uniforms, but the name stuck.

So in future, you could perhaps respond along the lines of, "No, any true Irishman would know that the Black and Tans didn't really wear black."

Hmmmm...could very well be. I really need to spend more time reading up on Irish history. I'm sadly lacking in information about my own background.

Maybe he was hoping you would buy one of his shirts.

Marketing by intimidation.

LMKAO!!

I don't think he was referring to the Black and Tans. I think he was talking about the Orangemen. They wear all black suits and hats with orange sashes.

On July 12th, what color you wear can be hazardous.

Thanks for that link! Very informative. My grandfather held some kind of position in an Orange Lodge back in Winnipeg, I'll have to do some digging.